Wrist-watch casing and method of manufacturing the same



Feb. 25, 1958 s. GRABER 2,824,419

WRIST-WATCH CASING AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME Filed Sept. 20.1954 2 Sheet s-Sheet l S. GRABER Feb. 25, 1958 2,824,419

WRISTWATCH CASING AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Sept. 20. 1954 United States Patent "Office WRIST-WATCH CASING ANDMETHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME Samuel Graber, St. lmier, SwitzerlandApplication September 20, 1954, Serial No. 457,107

Claims priority, application Switzerland September 22, 1953 4 Claims.(Cl. 58-88) Another object of the invention is a method of manufacturingsuch a wrist-watch case band in two parts by forming a ring and separateelements the extremities of at least a part of which constitute the lugsof the watchcase, said ring and said elements constituting respectivelythe two parts of the case band, by providing a groove in one of theseparts, by locating a portion of the other part into said groove, and byrigidly connecting said parts to one another, so as to form a whole inwhich said elements surround the whole ring. I

Still another object of the invention is a wrist-watch casing in whichthe case band comprises a ring and elements the extremities of at leasta part of which constitute the lugs of the case, said ring and saidelements constituting each a part of the watchcase, one of these partsbeing provided with a groove which is filled by a portion of the otherpart, and said two parts being fixed one to the other by means of saidportion, so as to form.

a rigid body in which said ring.

Still further objects of the invention will appear in the course of thefollowing description.

. Eleven embodiments of the watchcase according to the invention arerepresented diagrammatically and by way of example in the drawings whichare annexed to this specification and form a part thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation view of the first embodiment,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the watchcase represented in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along line III-III of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a plan view analogous to that of Fig. 2 of the secondembodiment.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation view analogous to that of Fig. l of thesecond embodiment,

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are views analogous to that of Fig. 5 of the third,fourth and fifth embodiments, respectively.

. Fig. 9 is a cross-section of the watchcase band represented in Fig. 2,drawn to a greater scale,

Fig. 10 is a cross-section analogous to that of Fig. 9 of the watchcasesaccording to the second and third embodiments,

Fig. 11 is a cross-section analogous to that of Fig. 9 of the fourthembodiment represented in Fig. 7,

Fig. 12 is a cross-section analogous to that of Fig. 9 of the fifthembodiment represented inFig. 8,and

elements surround the whole The ornamental designs provided 2,824,419Patented Feb. 25, 1958 Figs. 13 to 18 are cross-sections analogous tothat of Fig. 9 of the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventhembodiments, respectively.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 9 which show the first embodiment,the watchcase band represented comprises a ring 1 forming the bezel aswell as a first part of the band. This ring may be made very easily andit can obviously be manufactured completely on a lathe. Ring 1 isprovided with a snap fit 2 for the watch crystal and a tapped portion 3arranged for screwing therein a watchcase bottom not represented. Agroove 4 is provided in the external cylindrical surface 11 of ring 1.Groove 4 extends all around this ring 1. This groove 4 is arranged inorder to receive partly four elements which are identical two by two.These elements are provided with ornamental designs and they form alsothe watchcase lugs to which the wrist band is attached.

Fig. 3 shows the form of these elements. Element 5 constitutes aperipheral part of the watchcase band and it is made in one piece withthe two lugs 12 which are situated each on one side of the watchcase.Element 5' is symmetrical to element 5 and it carries the two lugs 12'which are also situated each on one side of the watchcase. Each end ofthe wrist band (not represented) may thus be attached in any well knownmanner to the two lugs 12 and 12' which are situated on the same side ofthe watchcase. The elements 6 and 6 are also introduced in part intogroove 4, each between the two lugs 12 and 12' which are situated on thesame side of the watchcase. A cylindrical cutout 7 is provided in eachof elements 5, 5' so that when these elements are set in place withingroove 4, the parts thereof, which form the lugs 12, 12, project fromthe watchcase and contact the latter over the whole height of itsexternal cylindrical surface 11.

' Elements 5, 5', 6, 6' may be first extruded from a die of a welldetermined section. Then they may be manufactured so that they receiveon the one hand their eventual curvature, and, on the other hand, thedesired ornamental designs. Said elements are only fixed (preferably bysoldering) to the ring 1 after having been completely machined andpolished.

The construction described enables thus manufacturing always using thesame ring 1 and varying only the form of the ornamental designs Theother figures of the designs of the elements fixed to the ring 1.

In the second embodiment represented in Figs. 4 and 5, these elementscarry ornamental designs 8 in relief, which are constituted by a garlandof hemispherical projections arranged along the central portion of thelateral external surface of said elements. Such an ornamental design mayfor instance be obtained by stamping. In this case the elements 5", 5",6", 6" are extruded from a rectangular die, then stamped and eventuallybent in order to give them the same curvature as ring 1.

In the third embodiment represented in Figs. 6 and 10 the elements fixedto the ring 1 are provided with an annular projection 8' having asemi-circular cross-section. These elements may also be extruded from adie the form of which corresponds to their cross-section represented inFig. 10. These elements need then only be polished and bent in anappropriate manner.

In the fourth embodiment represented in Figs. 7 and 11 the elements 13analogous to the elements 5, 5', 6, 6' are extruded from a rectangulardie as in the first embodiment. A knurling 14 is then provided on theirexternal surfaces, after which the elements 13 may be bent in anprovided on said elements.

groove '4.

drawings show several possible 'In the fifth embodiment represented inFigs. 8 and 12. the elements 9 analogous to elements 5, 5', 6. 6' have asquare cross-section and a V-ahaoed groove 4a is so provided in theexternal cylindrical surface 11 of ring 1 that a dia onal of the crss-section of elements9 extends in par llel to the xis of ring 1. 7

In Fig. 13 sh wing the sixth embodiment. the elements 10 h ve a circularcros ecti n and a roove 4b of semicirc lar cr s -section is provided inthe external cylindrical surface 11 of rin 1.

In the se e th embodiment (Fig. 14) .a groove 40 extends over the wholehei ht of the external cvlindrical surface of ring 1. s that the cutouts7 will not be necessar with lements 15.

The eighth emb diment shows elements 16 having still anothercrossection. The e elements 16 may. however, also be extruded directlyfrom a die of an appropriate form.

In the ninth embodimen i 163 the watchca e band comprises a ring 1forming the bezel and a part of the band.

A proiecting portion 17 having a rectan ular crosssection is f rmed allaround the external cylindrical surface 11 of ring 1.

Portion'17 is so arranged that it may be en a ed within a groove 18rovided in elements 19 constituting a sec 0nd art of the watchcase band.The cross-section of groove lscorre oonds to that of portion 17. Thefour elements 19 are identical two bv two. A first air thereof forms thewatchcase lugs to which the wrist band is attached. The two lugs formedby each element of said pair are situated on each side of the watchcaseand the central part of these two elements is bent according to thecurvature of the ring 1. The two elements of the other pair are alsobent according to ring 1 and they extend each between the two lugs ofthe watchcase which are situated on the same side thereof.

These elements are preferably made by extruding a straight bar from arectan ular die. A groove 18 is then provided in said bar over a len hwhich corresponds to the portion of said elements which is intended tocontact the ring 1. These elements may afterwards he machined in orderto give them. on the one hand. their eventual curvature, and, on theother hand. the desired ornamental desi ns. These elements are onlyfixed (nreferably by soldering) to the ring 1 after having beeneventually machined.

The tenth and the eleventh embodiments distin uish themselves from theninth one only by the form of the cross-section of said proiecting partof the ring 1 as well as of the groove provided in these elements.

'In the tenth embodiment (Fig. 17) the ring 1 is made with a triangularperipheral proiecting portion 20, which is engaged within a groove 21 ofthe same shape provided within said elements, whereas in the eleventhembodiment (Fig. 18) the ring 1 is made with a-semicircular projectingportion 22 and the cross-section of the groove 24 made in the elements25 corresponds to' that of projecting portion 22.

It is obvious that the'visible surfaces of the elements described in thethree latter embodiments may also be provided'with any desiredornamentaldesign in relief .or not. The general form of these elements neednoteven be necessarily rectangular.

It is also obvious that the same advantages may 'be obtained in the caseof watchcases in three pieces,-i. e. watchcases in which the band andthe bezel are separate parts. Eventually the results would still be thesameif the bottom, instead of being screwed or *fixedwith asnap I fit onthe case'band, would be'rnade'in' one piece 'withit. It will beunderstood that various changes inthe form, the shape and thearrangement of the described parts will appear obvious to those skilledin the art so thatthese changes could be made without departing from theSpi'rit.

4 or sacrificing the advantages of the invention, which is only limitedby the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In the manufacture of a wrist watch case band unit comprising meansadapted for connecting a watch crystal, a watch movement and a watchcase bottom together, and provided with external wrist band attachinglugs at its periphery, the method of providing said unit with ornaments,consisting of: lathe turning a ring with means on its inner face.adapted to connect the watch crystal, the watch movement and the watchcase bottom together, as well as with means on its outer face'adaptedto'rigidly fix elements thereon; forming ornaments at least onone faceof a bar; cutting said bar so as to form two pairs of identicalelements; providing means for fixing said elements to said ring, atleast on one face of said elements opposite the face thereof which isprovided with ornaments, these means and those of the outer face of saidring consisting the one of'a rim' and the other of a groove,'the rimbeing thereby adapted'to fill said groove; bending the elements of one'of said pairs so that these elements may encompass the ring and extendaround two symmetrical peripheral portions thereof, the ornamented facesthereof thereby appearing at least on the convex face of said elements;bending the elements of the other pair first so that a central portionof each element of the second pair may encompass said ringand'extend'around the two remaining peripheral portions thereof, theornamented face of these central portions thereby appearing on theirconvex faces, and secondly so that the two end portions of each elementof this pair may extend from said ring so as to form said wristbandattaching lugs; setting said rim and said groove of said elements and ofsaid ring into one another, and soldering said rim into said groove soas to form a rigid unit with said-elements and said ring.

2. In the manufacture of a wrist watch case band unit comprising meansadapted for connecting a watch crystal, a'watch movementand a watch casebottom together, and provided with external wrist band attaching lugs atits periphery, the method of providing said unit with ornaments,consisting of: lathe turning a ring with means adapted to connect thewatch crystal, the watch movementand the watch case bottom together, aswell as with'means on its outer face adapted to rigidly fix elementsthereon; forming ornaments at least on one face of a bar; cuttingsaid'bar so as -to form two pairs of identical elements; providing meansfor fixing said elements to said'ring, at least on oneface of saidelements opposite the face thereof which is provided with ornaments;bending the elements of one of said pairs so that these elementsmay'encompass said ring and extend around two symmetrical peripheralportions thereof, the ornamented faces thereof thereby appearing atleast on the convex face of said elements; bending the elements of theother pair firstso that a centralportion of each element of the secondpair may encompass said ring and extend around the two remainingperipheral portions thereof, the ornamental face of these centralportions thereby appearing on their convex face, and secondly so thatthe two end portions of each element of this pair may extend'from thisring so as to form said wrist band attaching lugs, andfixing saidelements to said ring so as to form a rigid unit.

"3. A wrist watch case'band unit comprising means adapted for connectinga watchcrystal, a watch movement and a watch case bottom together, andprovided with external wrist band attaching lugs at its periphery, saidunit-'consisting'of: a ring provided with means adapted to connect thewatch crystal,the watch movement and the watch case bottom together; afirst pair of identical longitudinal elements soldered to the ring sothat they 'extend around .two symmetrical peripheral portions thereof,and a second pair of identical longitudinal'elements having each acentral portion fixed to said ring and two end portions extendingtherefrom andrform ing said wrist band attaching lugs, said centralportions being so soldered to said ring as to extend around the tworemaining peripheral portions thereof, which are com prised between theelements of said first pair, a rim and a groove thereby being providedthe one in said ring and the other in said elements, so that the rimfills the groove in order to provide a large surface of contact betweenthe ring and the elements for ensuring enough rigidity to said unit,said elements having substantially throughout the same cross-section andcovering such a portion of said ring that they constitute an importantpart of the external visible surface of said watch case band unit.

4. A wrist watch case band unit comprising means adapted for connectinga watch crystal, a watch movement and a watch case bottom together, andprovided with external wrist band attaching lugs at its periphery, saidunit consisting of: a ring provided with means adapted to connect thewatch crystal, the watch movement and the watch case bottom together; afirst pair of identical longitudinal elements fixed to the ring so thatthey extend around two symmetrical peripheral portions thereof, and asecond pair of identical longitudinal elements having each a centralportion fixed to said ring and two end portions extending therefrom andforming said wrist band attaching lugs, said central portions being sofixed to said ring as to extend around the two remaining peripheralportions thereof, which are comprised between the elements of said firstpair, said elements covering such a portion of said ring that theyconstitute an important part of the external visible surface of saidwatch case band unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,927,838 Kislinger Sept. 26, 1933 2,559,238 Wallin July 3, 1951 FOREIGNPATENTS 204,917 Switzerland Aug. 16, 1939 1,040,844 France May 27, 1953

